Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced a cease-fire in the Donbas during the NATO Summit Wales 2014. The UN Secretary-General welcomed the cease-fire as positive news

Inspite of renewed fighting in Donetsk and the port city of Mariupol, the cease-fire Is still in effect as of Sunday night, September 7. As fragile as it may be, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko definitely wants to give peace a chance, and as he stated, he will do everything he can to return peace to his country.

Ukraine, Russia, the Kremlin-backed separatists and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) signed the cease-fire deal in Minsk, Belarus last week.

But what happens now is anybody’s guess?

As UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stated on September 5, “there is no military solution to the crisis in Ukraine.

“ He strongly asserts that “it is time to end this destructive conflict once and for all, to stop the bloodshed, and to start rebuilding communities and livelihoods in a safe, stable and sovereign Ukraine. The Secretary-General is offering” the full support of the UN to efforts in this direction as appropriate and requested by the parties. “

During the NATO Wales Summit 2014 in Newport, Wales on September 4-5, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko held a press conference on September 5 to announce that “a decision on a cease-fire was approved to establish peace in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.” The President went on to say that “I have made this decision that the truce had been achieved on the basis of the peace plan and respect for the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine.”

The President stated that it had been symbolic that this agreement had been reached during the NATO Summit which took place on September 4-5 in Wales. The President informed the press that the Protocol consisted of 12 items, and “one of the main demands is the liberation of hostages which he said, “we are planning to conduct the exchange starting from tomorrow.” (September 6).

President Poroshenko emphasized, too, that “the political dialogue will be continued in the course of the cease-fire”, and according to the President, “under the protocol signed following the meeting of the trilateral contact group in Minsk, the cease- fire was declared. President Poroshenko once again emphasized that ”the Ukrainian party would do everything possible to preserve peace and stability in the Donbass.”

In addition, he stated that “Kyiv is ready to ensure significant steps on decentralization of power, special status of separate districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the context of their economic freedom, guarantee of free use of languages and cultural traditions”. He stressed that all these items were in the peace plan.

According to President Poroshenko , the document included arrangements achieved in the course of the last phone conversation with Vladimir Putin. “It is important given the fact that the truce will last long. Now it is our common responsibility,” the Head of State added. He once again emphasized that “the Ukrainian party would do everything possible to preserve peace and stability in the Donbas.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who believes that there is no military solution to the crisis n Ukraine, welcomed the positive news on the cease-fire in Ukraine. The Secretary-General is pictured in front of UN Headquarters in New York. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe

On the same date, September 5, the UN Secretary-General welcomed the positive news that today’s consultations between the Contact Group and representatives of armed groups have resulted in the agreement of a cease-fire.

He also welcomed the recent discussions between the Presidents of Ukraine and Russia which have played a part in today’s breakthrough and strongly encourages those contacts to continue.

The Secretary-General stressed that “credible and comprehensive monitoring and verification are essential elements for successful implementation of the cease-fire and the peace plan. He encourages all who committed to the agreement to display good will and take concrete steps towards urgent, full, and effective implementation.

The Secretary-General also said that he is “calling on the entire international community to rally behind these agreements to serve the interests of a sustainable peace based on a solution that leads to full respect of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The cessation of hostilities will further allow the UN and other humanitarian actors of the international community to deliver critical humanitarian assistance and other needed support to impacted areas. “

Ann Charles is UN Bureau Chief of "Baltic Review" based in New York City. She covers diplomatic activities at United Nations Headquarters in New York and the world body's work in human rights, education, culture, the environment, and tourism, among other global concerns.